The Film Martin Scorsese Thinks Is Terrible Despite Its Historic Status

It is no secret that Martin Scorsese, one of the most celebrated auteurs in film history, is not afraid to share his blunt opinions on cinema. Despite his deep respect for the evolution of the medium, the director has spent much of his life harboring a genuine distaste for The Jazz Singer.

The 1927 feature that famously introduced synchronized sound to the world. While Scorsese acknowledges the film’s historical significance as a watershed moment that forever changed how audiences experience movies, his professional admiration does not translate to personal enjoyment.

In a candid discussion with film critic Richard Schickel, the Taxi Driver director did not mince words, plainly stating, I dislike The Jazz Singer. When Schickel dismissed the picture as an awful movie, Scorsese agreed, simply adding, It’s terrible.

The director recalls a very different experience within his own home growing up, where the film held a place of honor. His parents held the movie in high regard, primarily because they deeply identified with the narrative themes of family tradition and generational friction.

Scorsese noted that while he found the film lacking as a work of art, his father, Charles, saw reflections of their own Sicilian heritage in the Jewish family’s struggle against assimilation.

Scorsese acknowledges that The Jazz Singer effectively rewrote the rulebook for Hollywood, setting a template that filmmakers have followed for nearly a century. Even so, his stance remains unchanged, as he views the work as objectively poor despite its unique position in cinematic history.

He is clearly willing to distinguish between a film’s impact on the industry and its actual quality as a piece of entertainment. The legendary filmmaker remains as active as ever, currently turning his lens toward his next major production, What Happens at Night.

Principal photography for the project officially began in Prague in late February 2026, marking his first time back in the director’s chair since the completion of his 2023 epic, Killers of the Flower Moon.

The psychological horror thriller is based on the novel by Peter Cameron and features a star-studded ensemble cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Mads Mikkelsen, Patricia Clarkson, and Jared Harris.

With a screenplay adapted by Patrick Marber, the story follows a married American couple whose journey to adopt a child in a remote, snowy European town devolves into a surreal and unsettling mystery.

Given Scorsese’s notoriously thorough approach to post-production, industry insiders anticipate that the film will be crafted with his signature attention to atmosphere and character depth. While fans eagerly await a potential release date, many are projecting that the Apple Original Films production will aim for a debut at the 2027 Cannes Film Festival.

As he approaches his mid-80s, Scorsese continues to demonstrate a tireless passion for storytelling, proving that his drive to explore the unknown remains as potent as ever. Whether he is debating the merits of silent-era landmarks or meticulously crafting his latest psychological thriller, his commitment to the art of cinema remains unparalleled.

Have something to add? Share your thoughts in the comments.